Chainsaw file holder

ABSTRACT

A holder and guide for chainsaw files comprises an elongated body portion of V-shaped transverse section, the legs of the V being disposed at substantially 90* to each other, provided at either end with a transversely disposed flange which extends a suitable distance beyond the apex of the V, one of said flanges having an upwardly inclined cylindrical bore for receiving the point end of a round file, the other flange having a circular hole therethrough for permitting the mounting of the file on the guide and including means for securing the file in correctly spaced relation to the body portion. The inclination of the bore receiving the point end of the file permits the guide to be used with files of a plurality of sizes or diameters, e.g., 3/16 inch, 7/32 inch or 1/4 inch, the point end of a smaller file abutting the wall of the bore at a point farther up the incline than that of a larger file, while the spacing of the file circumference from the body portion of the guide remains the same.

United States Patent 1 Lawless [11] 3,67,853 51 Feb. 25, 1975 CHAINSAW FILE HOLDER [75] Inventor: John Lawless, Saunderstown, R.l.

[73] Assignee: Cooper Industries, lnc., Houston,

Tex.

[22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 445,912

Primary Examiner-Harrison L. Hinson Attorney, Agent, or FirmWatson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT A holder and guide for chainsaw files comprises an elongated body portion of V-shaped transverse section, the legs of the V being disposed at substantially 90 to each other, provided at either end with a transversely disposed flange which extends a suitable distance beyond the apex of the V, one of said flanges having an upwardly inclined cylindrical bore for receiving the point end of a round tfile, the other flange having a circular hole therethrough for permitting the mounting of the file on the guide and including means for securing the file in correctly spaced relation to the body portion. The inclination of the bore receiving the point end of the file permits the guide to be used with files of a plurality of sizes or diameters, e.g., 3/16 inch, 7/32 inch or 1/4 inch, the point end of a smaller file abutting the wall of the bore at a point farther up the incline than that of a larger file, while the spacing of the file circumference from the body portion of the guide remains the same.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CHAINSAW FILE HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sharpening the cutter teeth of a chainsaw chain requires the use of a round file, usually from 6 to 8 inches long and ranging in diameter from about 4% inch to onequarter inch or perhaps larger, depending upon the design dimensions of the saw chain to be sharpened. For proper results it is the usual practice to employ a file holder which also serves as a guide to aid the user in correctly orienting the file relative to the cutter tooth being sharpened, so as to maintain the file at the proper angle relative to the vertical portion of the tooth, and the proper spacing relative to the upper surface of the horizontal portion or top plate of the tooth, to ensure obtaining the desired angles for the vertical and horizontal cutting edges, respectively, of the tooth. Examples of such file holders are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,900 to Ehlen et al and U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,567 to Penberthy.

All chainsaw file holders heretofore available have been adapted to receive only one size of file. For this reason it has been necessary that anyone dealing with saw chains of differing design be equipped with a plurality of file holders, one for each size file. Also, considering only a single saw chain, as the cutters are progressively filed back to sharpen them, it is often best to change to the next smaller file diameter when the cutter is about one-third shortened in length by filing. Thus, a user requires at least two holders, as the cutters are progressively shortened, in order to sharpen them properly.

THE PRIOR ART The published prior art is exemplified by the U.S. patents identified above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has for its general object the provision of a file holder capable of receiving round files of a plurality of related sizes, e.g., 8 inches long by 3/16 inch, 7/32 inch and A inch in diameter, which group may be described as a family of file sizes. A particular holder according to the invention might, for example, be designed to receive a different family of files such as files 6 inches long by 1/8 inch, 9/64 inch and /32 inch in diameter. In either case, each file of the family in question is secured in the holder in such a way that the circumference of the file is spaced from the holder at such an interval that when the latter is abutted against the upper surface of the horizontal portion or top plate of a cutter tooth, the file is in correct position to sharpen both the vertical and horizontal cutting edges of the cutter tooth. The holder is provided with guide surfaces disposed at substantially 90 to each other, for contact with the top plates of alternate teeth, which of course are of opposite hand, and the holder is provided with the usual markings to facilitate orientation of the file at the proper angle to the length of the chain so as to produce the desired angles on the respective cutting edges of the tooth.

In order to achieve the aforesaid objects, the file holder of the invention comprises an elongated body portion of V-shaped transverse section, provided at ei ther end with a transversely extending flange which projects beyond the bottom of the V, one said flange having an upwardly inclined cylindrical bore to receive the point end of a round file, the other flange having a circular hole therethrough to permit insertion of the file into the holder, and means to secure the file therein. A handle portion may be provided on the first said flange, and the said cylindrical bore may extend into or through the handle portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the file holder of the invention comprises an elongated body portion 10 of troughlike formation, the two sides 11 and 12 being joined at substantially 90 so that the body portion 10 has a generally V-shaped transverse section.

A flange l3 closes one end of the body 10 and extends beyond the bottom of the V a sufficient distance to accommodate a circular hole 14 through which a file may be inserted into the holder. The opposite end of the body 10 is closed by a flange 15 generally similar to the flange 13 but preferably somewhat thicker than the flange 13. Both flanges are preferably integral with the body 10 and generally triangular in profile, although the geometry of their peripheries is not important except from the viewpoint of convenience in manufacture and in handling. Preferably the holder is provided with a handle portion 16 of cylindrical or similar transverse section and for convenience in manufacture the handle 16 maybe integral with the flange 15.

A cylindrical bore 17, whose axis lies in the central vertical longitudinal plane of the body 10, extends from the opening 18, in the surface of flange 15 nearest the body 10, into and/or through the flange l5 and, for convenience in manufacture, may extend through the handle portion 16 as well. The bore 17 inclines upwardly, at an angle of approximately 15 to the line defining the apex formed by the intersection of the planes of the outer side surface of the sides 11 and 12, and the circumferences of the hole 14 and opening 18 are tangent to said apex,

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the bottom or apex of the V formed by the sides 11 and 12 of the body 10 is relieved between the flanges l3 and 15 so that a file 19 mounted in the holder is properly spaced from the body 10 to permit the holder to abut the horizontal portion or top plate of a cutter tooth 20 while, at the same time, the file contacts the horizontal cutting edge 21 of the tooth 20 (FIG. 6) along the proper element of the file circumference to bring about the desired cutter angle on the edge 21. As is well known, the guide marks 22 (FIG. l)-and 23 (FIG. 5) inscribed on the inner surfaces of the sides 11 and 12, respectively, assist the user to orient the holder at the correct angle (depending on the hand of the tooth being, filed) relative to the length of the saw chain, to bring; about the desired cutter angle on the vertical cutting edge 24 (FIG. 6) of the tooth 20, as well as the proper transverse slant (FIG. 5) of the cutting edge 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the file 19 is mounted in the holder by inserting it through the hole 14 in flange 13 and advancing it until the point end 19' is arrested by the lower wall of the bore 17, thus automatically bringing the file into contact with the circumference of the opening 18 at the point where the latter is tangent to the aforesaid line defining the apex of the holder side surfaces. The tank end 19" of the file is then tightened against the upper side of the hole 14 by means of a thumb screw 25 threaded into a screw hole 26 extending from the bottom of flange 13 into the hole 14. In this way the proper spacing of the file 19 from the body is ensured, whether the file is of a size just fitting hole 14, or is smaller. The smaller the file, the farther into bore 17 it will extend before being stopped by the wall thereof, but in each case the file will be similarly spaced from the body 10. This effect is illustrated in FIG. 4, showing the relative positions, in bore 17, of the three sizes of files constituting a family."

In use, the usual handle 27 is preferably installed on the tang 27' of the file 19, the hands of the user gripping the handle 27 and handle portion 16 in orienting and reciprocating the file. The outer surface of a side 11 or 12, depending on the hand of the tooth being filed, is rested upon the top plate of the tooth to be filed, the appropriate guide mark is aligned with the saw chain and, with the holder maintained flat against said top plate, reciprocation of the holder and file in contact with the respective cutting edges of the tooth will bring about a proper sharpening action.

As will be apparent, various changes and modifications of the described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A chainsaw file holder comprising an elongated body portion of generally V-shaped transverse section, the legs of said V being disposed at substantially to each other, transversely extending flanges at either end of said body portion and projecting beyond the bottom of said V, one said flange being formed to provide a cylindrical bore extending in a direction away from said body portion and having its axis in the central longitudinal vertical plane of said body portion, said bore inclining upwardly from an opening in that surface of said flange nearest said body portion, said opening being tangent to the apex formed by the intersection of the planes of the outer side surfaces of the V-shaped body portion, said other flange having a cylindrical hole extending therethrough and having its axis in said central longitudinal vertical plane and its circumference tangent to said apex, and means for securing a chainsaw file in said holder with the point end thereof abutting the wall of said bore and the other end extending through said hole.

2. A chainsaw file holder as defined in claim 1, said bore inclining upwardly at an angle of approximately 15 from the line defining said apex.

3. A chainsaw file holer as defined in claim 1, said opening having a circumference larger than that of said hole, whereby a round file of a size to just fit in said hole may extend through said opening and abut the wall of said bore.

4. A chainsaw file holder as defined in claim 1, including a handle portion projecting from said flange containing said bore in a direction away from said body portion and parallel to the length thereof, said bore extending into said handle portion.

5. A chainsaw file holder as defined in claim 1, said body portion being relieved at the apex of said V to space a file secured in said holder from said body portion. 

1. A chainsaw file holder comprising an elongated body portion of generally V-shaped transverse section, the legs of said V being disposed at substantially 90* to each other, transversely extending flanges at either end of said body portion and projecting beyond the bottom of said V, one said flange being formed to provide a cylindrical bore extending in a direction away from said body portion and having its axis in the central longitudinal vertical plane of said body portion, said bore inclining upwardly from an opening in that surface of said flange nearest said body portion, said opening being tangent to the apex formed by the intersection of the planes of the outer side surfaces of the V-shaped body portion, said other flange having a cylindrical hole extending therethrough and having its axis in said central longitudinal vertical plane and its circumference tangent to said apex, and means for securing a chainsaw file in said holder with the point end thereof abutting the wall of said bore and the other end extending through said hole.
 2. A chainsaw file holder as defined in claim 1, said bore inclining upwardly at an angle of approximately 15* from the line defining said apex.
 3. A chainsaw file holer as defined in claim 1, said opening having a circumference larger than that of said hole, whereby a round file of a size to just fit in said hole may extend through said opening and abut the wall of said bore.
 4. A chainsaw file holder as defined in claim 1, including a handle portion projecting from said flange containing said bore in a direction away from said body portion and parallel to the length thereof, said bore extending into said handle portion.
 5. A chainsaw file holder as defined in claim 1, said body portion being relieved at the apex of said V to space a file secured in said holder from said body portion. 